Rule 14-704. Qualifications for admission of attorney applicants.

(a) Requirements of attorney applicants. The burden of proof is on the applicant to establish by clear and convincing evidence that he or she:

(a)(1) has paid the prescribed fees and filed the required application as an attorney applicant in accordance with Rule 14-707;

(a)(2) is at least 21 years old;

(a)(3) has graduated with a first professional degree in law (Juris Doctorate or Bachelor of Laws) or equivalent degree from an approved law school;

(a)(4) has been admitted to the practice of law before the highest court of a sister state or United States territory, or the District of Columbia for no fewer than five years, and have been substantially (meaning 50% or more) and lawfully engaged in the practice of law in the jurisdiction where licensed for any four of the five years immediately preceding the filing of the application. For purposes of this rule, the practice of law includes the following activities or the equivalent thereof:

(a)(4)(A) sole practitioner, or partner, shareholder, associate, or of counsel in a law firm; or

(a)(4)(B) an organization's employee whose principal responsibility is to provide legal advice or service; or

(a)(4)(C) government employee whose principal duties are to provide legal advice or service; or

(a)(4)(D) service in the United States armed forces in a legal capacity; or

(a)(4)(E) judge of a court of general or appellate jurisdiction requiring admission to a bar as a qualification for admission thereof; or

(a)(4)(F) law clerk to a judge of a court of general or appellate jurisdiction; or

(a)(4)(G) teaching full-time in an approved law school;

(a)(5) is of good moral character and has satisfied the requirements of Rule 14-708;

(a)(6) has successfully passed the Bar Examination as prescribed in Rule 14-710;

(a)(7) has successfully passed the MPRE as prescribed in Rule 14-713; and

(a)(8) has complied with the provisions of Rule 14-716 concerning licensing and enrollment fees.

(b) Election to take student Bar Examination. At the time of application, an attorney applicant may elect to be examined under the student Bar Examination as prescribed in Rule 14-710 and which is scored in accordance with Rule 14-711.